UPS Shipping Calculator
Get instant UPS shipping rates for all services. Compare UPS Ground, Air, and international options. Save up to 48% on UPS labels through ShipWave.
How much does UPS shipping cost?
UPS shipping costs vary by service: UPS Ground starts around $10-14 for small packages, UPS 3 Day Select from $16-28, and UPS Next Day Air from $35-70+. Prices depend on weight, dimensions, and distance. ShipWave offers discounted UPS rates up to 48% below retail prices.
Compare Shipping Rates
Real rates through ShipWave - save up to 54% vs retail
| Carrier | Service | Price | Delivery Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Ground | 1-5 business days | $9.85 | 1-5 days | Cheapest |
| UPS 3 Day Select | 3 business days | $17.40 | 3 days | |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | 2 business days | $24.60 | 2 days | |
| UPS 2nd Day Air AM | 2 days by noon | $29.80 | 2 days AM | |
| UPS Next Day Air Saver | Next day by 3 PM | $38.50 | Next day | |
| UPS Next Day Air | Next day by 10:30 AM | $52.40 | Next day AM |
1-5 business days
3 business days
2 business days
2 days by noon
Next day by 3 PM
Next day by 10:30 AM
* Prices shown are discounted ShipWave rates. Actual rates vary by exact dimensions, weight, and origin/destination.
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UPS Service Options Explained
UPS Ground: The most economical UPS option. Delivers in 1-5 business days depending on distance. Guaranteed delivery dates for most shipments.
UPS 3 Day Select: Guaranteed delivery in 3 business days by end of day. Good for time-sensitive shipments that don't need 2-day or overnight.
UPS 2nd Day Air: Guaranteed 2-day delivery by end of day (varies by location). Also available as 2nd Day Air AM for delivery by noon.
UPS Next Day Air: Multiple overnight options - Saver (next day by 3 PM), standard (by 10:30 AM), or Early (by 8 AM). Prices increase with earlier delivery.
UPS SurePost: Economy option using USPS for final delivery. Cheapest but slowest (2-7 days).
UPS Pricing Factors
Dimensional Weight: UPS charges the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight (L x W x H / 139). Even small packages can be charged for larger dimensions.
Zone Pricing: UPS uses zones 2-8 based on distance from origin. Zone 2 is closest (often same state), Zone 8 is cross-country.
Fuel Surcharges: UPS Ground has lower fuel surcharges than Air services. Surcharges fluctuate with fuel prices.
Residential Surcharge: UPS charges $4-5 extra for residential delivery on all services. Business addresses avoid this fee.
Delivery Area Surcharge: Remote areas incur additional $3-4 surcharges beyond the residential fee.
Why Use ShipWave for UPS?
Major Discounts: ShipWave offers up to 48% off UPS retail rates. These are negotiated volume discounts available even for occasional shippers.
No Minimums: Get commercial rates without shipping volume requirements or annual commitments.
Easy Comparison: Compare UPS against USPS, FedEx, and DHL for every shipment. Choose the best carrier each time.
Full Tracking: All UPS shipments include tracking. View delivery status directly in ShipWave.
Pro Tips to Save More
UPS Ground is Usually Best
For non-urgent packages, UPS Ground offers the best value with reliable 1-5 day delivery.
Measure Accurately
Round up dimensions to the nearest inch. Dimensional weight often determines price for larger boxes.
Ship to Business Addresses
Avoid $4-5 residential surcharge by shipping to business addresses when possible.
Consider 3 Day Select
When 5-day Ground seems too slow, 3 Day Select costs much less than 2-day Air.
Drop Off at UPS Store
UPS Access Points and UPS Stores accept ShipWave-generated labels for drop-off.
Schedule Pickup
Request UPS pickup through ShipWave instead of driving to drop-off locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Use our free UPS shipping calculator above. Enter your package weight, dimensions, and addresses to see instant quotes for all UPS services at discounted rates up to 48% off retail.
- It depends on the specific shipment. UPS Ground and FedEx Ground are similarly priced. UPS tends to be slightly cheaper for Ground shipping, while FedEx Express is often competitive for air services. Always compare both.
- UPS SurePost (with final USPS delivery) is cheapest but slowest. UPS Ground is the cheapest option with guaranteed delivery dates. For heavy items, UPS Simple Rate boxes may offer savings.
- UPS uses the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight, multiplied by the rate for your service and zone. Additional fees include fuel surcharges, residential delivery, and potentially remote area surcharges.
- Both! UPS calculates dimensional weight (L x W x H / 139) and compares to actual weight. You're charged for whichever is higher. A large, lightweight box might cost more than a small, heavy one.
- UPS overnight shipping ranges from $35-100+ depending on service level, package size, and distance. UPS Next Day Air Saver is cheapest (delivery by 3 PM), while Early AM is most expensive. ShipWave offers up to 48% off these rates.
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Real-Time Rates
Live pricing from all carriers updated continuously for accuracy.
Volume Discounts
The more you ship, the more you save with our tiered pricing.
Customer Support
24/7 support to help with all your shipping questions and needs.
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